Music

Janelle Monáe’s been blossoming in Hollywood, most recently appearing in the Netflix film Green Onions, but music may still on the star’s mind. In a recent interview with NME, Monáe teased that new music is on the way.

“Actually, you will,” the singer responded when asked if fans will hear some new tunes soon. “You will get new music because I now have a clone. That clone does all of my music, and I have another clone for acting. I’m not going to tell you if it’s me or not. They’re in the studio right now!”

Monáe’s most recent studio album is 2018’s Dirty Computer. The movie Green Onion is due out on Friday. 

The singer will receive the SeeHer Award at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards next year.

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Lana Del Rey is apparently making her new album rollout personal.

A billboard advertising the “Video Games” artist’s upcoming album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, was reportedly put up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the hometown of Del Rey’s ex Sean Larkin of the reality police show Live PD.

According to screenshots posted by Pop Crave, Del Rey shared photos of the billboard on her personal, private Instagram alongside the captions “There’s only one and it’s in Tulsa” and “It’s. Personal.”

Del Rey and Larkin began dating in 2019 and attended the 2020 Grammys together before breaking up that year. Following the split, Del Rey was reportedly engaged to musician Clayton Johnson.

Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd will be released March 10. It follows Del Rey’s two 2021 albums, Chemtrails Over the Country Club and Blue Banisters.

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Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and more of country’s female powerhouses are getting a special spotlight next month as part of AXS TV’s “Women of Country” programming.

Taking place January 7, the network will dedicate a full Saturday stack to celebrating the impact of legendary women, kicking off at 12 p.m. ET with appearances from Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood on The Big Interview with Dan Rather.

Next up is Dolly, with a look back at her incredible career in The Dolly Parton Story — From Rags to Rhinestones. Hillary Scott and Lady A take the spotlight next, followed by programming that focuses on Taylor Swift, Shania and Wynonna.

The “Women of Country” focus will last through 3 a.m. ET the following day. Tune into AXS TV on January 7 for a daylong celebration of some of country’s female heavy hitters, with profiles, performances and more included in the programming.

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Bruno Mars is ringing in 2023 with his favorite rum in hand — his SelvaRey brand — at an intimate Las Vegas gathering.

Travel + Leisure reports Bruno and his rum brand will take over the Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino on New Year’s Eve. DJ Pee .Wee, otherwise known as his Silk Sonic collaborator Anderson .Paak — will also be at the exclusive event.

Only 150 guests will be allowed into the party, which will reportedly serve some out-of-this-world, luxury food offerings like Wagyu steak and caviar.  There will also be a four-course meal, live music during an all-night dance party, special SelvaRey cocktails and a champagne toast with Jay-Z and Beyoncé‘s luxury brand Ace of Spades.

A Supper Club spokesperson told the outlet of the party, “The ability to enjoy a luxurious dinner in front of the Bellagio Fountains while Bruno Mars entertains guests steps away is quite the surreal experience.”

Doors open at 9 p.m. local venue time on December 31.  You can only grab tickets by calling the venue at 702-693-7355 or by emailing them directly via luxuryexperience@bellagioresort.com.

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A chef who used to work for Lil Wayne claims she was wrongfully terminated in a lawsuit she’s filed against the rapper.

TMZ reports Morghan Medlock alleged Wayne fired her earlier this year because she had to leave his Memorial Day trip to Vegas after receiving a call about her injured son. In court docs obtained by the outlet, she claimed Wayne and his team were smoking on the private jet, which was delaying their departure. As she was in a rush to get to her son, she booked a separate flight and notified Wayne’s assistant. She said she made it clear she wasn’t quitting when she left to take care of her son.

According to Medlock, she reached out to Wayne’s team about getting back to work, but was ignored. She later received a text informing her of her termination, along with a message from Wayne saying, “tell Chef Morghan this isn’t going to work,” she wrote in the suit.

Medlock is suing Wayne for wrongful termination, retaliation and unlawful practices, claiming California law protects against the firing of an employee who missed work to care for their sick or injured child. She’s seeking at least $500,000 in the case.

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Zac Brown Band is known for their immersive, high-energy live shows — and that’s not changing anytime soon, even though member John Driskell Hopkins is currently battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

In conversation with the Tennessean, ZBB’s Coy Bowles explains that the band is focusing on every second they get to play onstage with John.

“We can’t allow ourselves to think about [Hopkins’ ALS diagnosis] as a super-defining negative because we love him so much,” Coy explains. “So our mind frame around it has been focused on making the most of the fact that he’s still out there with us.”

The band has also been finding ways to use their connection to the degenerative disease for a good cause. In 2022, they played a sold-out benefit show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to raise awareness of ALS and money for research toward a cure.

Now, ZBB is still rocking: They’re on the bill for New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, which will air from Music City to ring in 2023.

“Humans gathering together to celebrate the power of music is exciting,” Coy adds. “We’re firing on all cylinders and probably having the best time [onstage] we’ve ever had.”

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Damon Albarn has shared a cover of The Specials as a tribute to late vocalist Terry Hall.

In a video posted to his Twitter, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman performs an instrumental piano version of “Friday Night, Saturday Morning.”

“Terry, you meant the world to me,” Albarn writes in the caption. “I love you.”

The Specials announced on Monday that Hall, 63, had died “following a brief illness.” In a Facebook post, bassist Horace Panter shared that Hall had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

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DaBaby has scored a legal victory in a $6 million lawsuit that accused him of battery in 2020.

As TMZ reported, concert promoter Kenneth Carey had hired DaBaby that year as a host for a Miami event. When the two were unable to agree on the fee, Carey claimed a fight broke out. He said the rapper assaulted him, and robbed him and his friend.

DaBaby was initially charged with criminal battery, which prosecutors later dropped. After a five-day trial, he came out victorious.

“Along with our client, Jonathan Kirk (DaBaby), we are thrilled that this federal jury, after a five-day trial, came to the same conclusion that we have maintained for almost 3 years – that these plaintiffs were attempting to use the legal system to shake down Mr. Kirk,” the rapper’s attorney Drew Findling told TMZ Hip Hop. “Mr. Kirk deserves all the credit in the world for not caving in to these plaintiffs’ cash demands and having the confidence in the facts and his legal team to take this to a jury trial for a complete and total victory!”

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It’s certainly been one of those days/weeks/months for Elon Musk, and Fred Durst is here to help.

In a tweet to the billionaire, who’s faced criticism over his handling of the social platform since purchasing it for a reported $44 billion, the Limp Bizkit frontman writes, “@elonmusk good morning, sir. Myself and @limpbizkit are available for any help you may want or need at Twitter. Happy Holidays.”

It’s unclear exactly how the Bizkit might be able to help the embattled Musk, but Durst has surprised us with his projects before — remember when he directed an eHarmony commercial? — so maybe he’s secretly a programmer or engineer, too.

While Durst is offering his assistance to Musk, a number of rockers have left Twitter following his takeover, including Jack White and Trent Reznor.

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